‘Waves’ Writer-Director Jiří Mádl & Cast Discuss Shining A Light On Brave Czech Journalists During Prague Spring – Contenders International

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Before he began his career as a writer-director, Jiří Mádl was at journalism school when he first found out about the story of a group of brave Czech journalists who would later become the subject of his third feature Waves.   “As a punishment for not having proper attendance at the seminars, I got this assignment to read a historic book about Czechoslovakian Radio,” Mádl said, discussing his movie at Deadline’s Contenders Film: International showcase. “I knew that I really wanted to turn this into a screenplay and it’s stayed in my head since 2009.”  Waves, which is the Czech Republic’s official entry into the International Oscar race this year, is set during the 1968 Prague Spring and explores the dramatic events of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia from the point of view of journalists working in the International News Office of Czechoslovak Radio.

Set during a period where rock-and-roll student rebellions were changing the world, the story follows radio station employee Tomáš (played by Vojtĕch Vodochodský), who finds himself caught between secret services and his revolutionary brother as the station broadcasts a confidential recording, forcing him to confront history head-on.  RELATED: Contenders International — Deadline’s Complete Coverage When researching the film, Mádl said he was lucky enough to meet four of the actual journalists – including Vera Štovíčková (played by Tana Pauhofová), the only female journalist of the group – who were able to provide him with details of the event.

They were, he says, “the primary source” for the film’s research. “I would say 80% of the information came from Vera, the only woman in the newsroom.”  Vodochodský said his character Tomáš is someone who “represents someone we